The Silver Hart
"Wake up... Please... Wake up, brother..." came the mewling sound from beyond the barricade.
The day had started lovely, a warm and rainless Eleint day in Westcliff, in 166AR. The wedding had been beautiful, if small. Food, beautiful people, loving vows and a kiss. As the sun began to set and night began to meander in, something strange ran past; once then twice. A white hart, an ethereal stag.
The sudden explosion and destruction of a hellball ended festivities quickly.
Droves of lycans came to change the wedding feast into a feast upon the wedding. Yet, they were driven back, culled by the experienced adventurers. A second wave came, and it two was driven back. It was then that the wedding goers met the leader of this assault.
The man sat upon his horse, both of them ethereal. The man spoke, yet had no head; demanding the Hart that had been seen before. While the lycan attack had been simple to cull, the leader of the attack was immune to all magic and blade, nothing could harm him.
Once more the rider demanded the hart, and if it was not given then he would return and sunder their home, sunder Westcliff. The man exploded from existence, returning from whence he came.
Soon the hart, a spirit named Yuir, from the Yuirwoods, came from the water to appear before those that remained. Poor Yuir was trapped in a cyclic curse of the Wild Hunt by this Huntsman; the Huntsman sought Yuir as his prey. Yuir was akin to a Ferryman, shepherding the spirits of the dead animals through the Spirit Plane to the Beastlands. The Hart ensured that the spirits didn't become trapped, or restless; and this is why the Huntsman sought him.
The Huntsman had taken the pups of the Wolf Spirit as his own, to force the cooperation of the Wolf Spirit. To force the Wolf Spirit to protect him and give him the army of lycans.
So it was that a few weeks later, five brave adventurers set off together into the spirit world, to break Yuir free of his curse, to free the wolf spirit pups.
At the same time the sundering of Westcliff began. A full scale assault was launched on the adventurers' home; even though it was broad daylight.
They travelled to a cabin in the Spirit Forest. A cabin trapped and littered with the corpses of ethereal and corporeal beings alike. Step by step they breached the defenses, broke through the traps, and finally reached the cabin's bedroom. It was then that they heard the voice.
"Wake up... Please... Wake up, brother..." came the mewling sound from beyond the barricade.
They tore apart the barricade to get to the wolf cubs, finding them both malnourished and weak. One was barely breathing, clearly unconscious. Both were slowly turning into malevolent spirits for the mistreatment and abuse they had suffered. Fortunately they had brought along healers, and the wolf pups were spiritually healed, restored.
They had to hurry however, as the Hunter could return any moment, and he was still under the protection of the Wolf Spirit until her pups are returned. Now they are free!
The group hurries to bring them back to their mother, the Wolf Spirit. The pact between the Wolf Spirit and the Huntsman is broken. The Huntsman arrived, lycans in tow, as the spirits were returned.
The lycans snarled and turned on the Huntsman, tearing him limb from limb in their frenzy of revenge.
The wolf pups were free from their torment.
The Wolf Spirit was free from her pact.
Yuir was free from his curse.
So it was that the balance was restored, and Yuir the silver hart returned to his duties, and to his home, his home in Arborea.
Originally told by Veisha Calan during the fourth Day of Stories. Recorded, written and embellished by Minto T Cloudpaw.